A method is provided for performing first line triage of network issues after receiving an indication of an error in a computer network. At least one software agent in a network element of the computer network is queried. The software agent(s) are embedded in the source code for processes running on the network element. Data from the software agent(s) are received in response to the query.
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1. A method comprising: receiving an indication of an error in a computer network; querying at least one software agent in a network element of the computer network, the at least one software agent being embedded in source code for corresponding processes running on the network element; and receiving data from the at least one software agent in response to the querying.
A method for troubleshooting network problems involves detecting a network error, then querying lightweight software agents embedded directly within the code of processes running on network devices (like routers or switches). These agents, living inside the processes, respond to the query, providing relevant internal data to help diagnose the error.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising processing the data to determine a source of the error in the computer network, and generating processed data identifying the source of the error.
The method for troubleshooting network problems, starting with detecting a network error and querying software agents embedded within processes on network devices to obtain data, further includes analyzing this received data to pinpoint the root cause or source of the network error. The result of this analysis is the generation of processed data that specifically identifies the error's source.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising: determining a destination responsible for fixing the source of the error; and sending a message to the destination responsible for fixing the source of the error, the message including the processed data.
The method for troubleshooting network problems, which includes detecting a network error, querying embedded software agents for data, determining the error's source, and generating processed data, also involves identifying the specific team or person responsible for fixing the identified error. Finally, the method sends a targeted message containing the processed data (the error's source) directly to that responsible party.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the message is sent only to the destination responsible for fixing the source of the error.
The method for troubleshooting network problems, after detecting a network error, querying embedded software agents for data, determining the error's source, generating processed data, and identifying the responsible party, ensures that the message containing the error information is sent exclusively to the specific team or individual responsible for resolving that particular error, avoiding unnecessary notifications to others.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication of the error is received from one of a user client, a test engineering client, or an automated process.
In the method for troubleshooting network problems, where a network error is detected before querying embedded software agents, the indication of the network error can originate from various sources, including a user using a client application, a test engineer running diagnostic tools, or an automated monitoring system that proactively detects anomalies.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data includes secure data that is not permitted to be transmitted from the network element.
In the method for troubleshooting network problems, where data is gathered from embedded software agents after detecting a network error, the data collected from the agents may include sensitive or confidential information that, under normal circumstances, is not allowed to be transmitted outside of the network device for security reasons.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a software agent embedded within the source code for every process running on the network element.
The method for troubleshooting network problems, which involves querying embedded software agents after detecting a network error, goes a step further by ensuring that *every* process running on a given network device has a dedicated software agent embedded directly within its source code, providing comprehensive monitoring and diagnostics capabilities.
8. An apparatus comprising: a network interface comprising a plurality of ports and one or more network processors that perform networking functions in a network; a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory and the network interface, wherein the processor: receives, via the network interface, an indication of an error in the network; queries at least one software agent in the apparatus, the at least one software agent being embedded in source code stored in the memory for corresponding processes; and receives data from the at least one software agent in response to the querying.
A network apparatus (like a router or switch) contains network ports, processors performing networking tasks, memory, and a central processor. When the processor detects a network error, it queries software agents embedded within the source code of the device's processes (the code stored in memory). These agents then provide internal data back to the processor to aid in diagnosing the issue.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor processes the data to determine a source of the error in the network, and generates processed data identifying the source of the error.
In the network apparatus, after detecting a network error and querying embedded agents to obtain data (as described in the previous apparatus claim), the processor analyzes the received data to determine the root cause of the network error and generates specific processed data identifying the error's source.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the processor: determines a destination responsible for fixing the source of the error; and causes a message to be sent, via the network interface, to the destination responsible for fixing the source of the error, the message including the processed data.
The network apparatus, which detects errors, queries embedded agents, determines the error's source, and generates processed data, also identifies the team or person responsible for fixing the error. It then automatically sends a message containing the processed data (the error's source) through its network interface directly to that responsible party.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the message is sent only to the destination responsible for fixing the source of the error.
The network apparatus, after detecting network error, querying embedded agents, determining error source, generating data, and identifying responsible team, makes sure the message sent with the error information is only sent to the team or person responsible for fixing the identified network error, avoiding unnecessary alerts to other personnel.
12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the data includes secure data that is not permitted to be transmitted from the network element.
In the network apparatus, where data is gathered from embedded agents after detecting a network error, the data that is retrieved from the agents can include data that contains private or sensitive information that cannot usually be sent outside the network element for security reasons.
13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor receives the indication of the error from one of a user client, a test engineering client, or an automated process.
Within the network apparatus, when it detects a network error before querying embedded agents, the error indication can come from various origins: a user's client application, a test engineer running diagnostic tests, or an automated system detecting network anomalies.
14. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a software agent embedded in the source code for every process running on the network element.
The network apparatus, which contains embedded software agents that can be queried, goes a step further and embeds an agent within the source code of *every* process that runs on the network element, providing exhaustive monitoring and diagnostic capabilities.
15. A system comprising: at least one network element to carry traffic in a network; and a server to: receive an indication of an error in the network; and query at least one software agent in the network element, the at least one software agent being embedded within source code for corresponding processes running on the network element; wherein the network element generates data from the at least one software agent in response to the querying.
A system comprises network devices carrying traffic and a central server. When the server detects a network error, it queries software agents embedded within the processes running on those network devices. In response to the query, the network devices then generate data from those embedded agents.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the network element further processes the data to determine a source of the error in the network, and generates processed data identifying the source of the error, and wherein the server further receives the processed data in response to the querying.
In the system where a server detects errors and queries agents in network devices, the network device not only generates data, but *also* processes that data to pinpoint the source of the error and creates processed data identifying the root cause. The server then receives this processed data from the network element in response to its query.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the server further: determines a destination responsible for fixing the source of the error; and sends a message to the destination responsible for fixing the source of the error, the message including the processed data.
The system that features a server that detects network errors and queries the software agents to troubleshoot the error then identifies the team/person responsible for fixing the error, finally sends a message containing the processed data to the specific team that can resolve the error.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the message is sent only to the destination responsible for fixing the source of the error.
The system, after a server identifies a network error and queries agents and figures out who is responsible for fixing it, sends a message that is only sent to the responsible party. This avoids unnecessary alerts or notification to other personnel.
19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the data includes secure data that is not permitted to be transmitted from the network element.
The system that uses embedded software agents to troubleshoot errors can retrieve data that contains private or sensitive information that cannot usually be sent outside the network element for security reasons.
20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the server receives the indication of the error from one of a user client, a test engineering client, or an automated process.
In the system, when the server detects an error before querying embedded software agents, the error indication can come from a user using a client application, a test engineer running a diagnostic tool, or an automated monitoring system that automatically detects network anomalies.
21. The system of claim 15 , wherein the network element further comprises a software agent embedded within the source code for every process running on the network element.
The system where the server queries embedded agents to troubleshoot errors ensures that *every* process running on a given network device has a dedicated software agent embedded directly within its source code, providing comprehensive monitoring and diagnostics capabilities.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
October 27, 2014
April 11, 2017
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